Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

Apart from Chen Tingjing, Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion; Zhang Tingyu, Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall; and Li Guangdi, Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall...

The other two newly appointed Grand Secretaries are Fang Congzhe and Xiong Cili, both of whom appear to be in their fifties.

Fang Congzhe stood behind Zhang Tingyu, a leading figure in the Zhejiang Party.

With a fair complexion and long beard, he appeared to be a refined and elegant scholar, but his expression at this moment seemed somewhat solemn.

Xiong Cili stood behind Fang Congzhe, the leader of the Chu faction.

He looked a few years younger than Fang Congzhe, with a square face and a pair of rather dignified eyes.

The Prince of Nan'an and the Prince of Beijing stood on the other side in the ranks of military officials, dressed in their princely robes and jade belts.

Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, had a handsome face and a slender figure, with a composed and noble air about him that befitted a scion of a prominent family.

The Prince of Nan'an was in his forties, with a dark complexion and fine lines around his eyes, making him look somewhat old, but his face was solemn.

At this moment, although no one spoke, their expressions were somewhat gloomy and uncertain.

Emperor Jingsheng suddenly summoned them for a meeting, taking into account the victory report from Jia Zijie, the newly arrived Marquis of the Northwest.

They knew without a doubt that the topic of discussion was the bestowal of titles and rewards upon those in the Northwest.

This matter has been unresolved for a long time, and it seems that a result will be reached today!

Logically speaking, winning a battle on the Northwest front is a good thing, and rewards are due. As important officials of the court, they should not be treating it as a major battle!

The problem is that the champion, Jia Jing, is just too good at fighting!

Nine battles, nine victories; now, they have sealed the wolf's lair, drunk from the vast sea, pacified the grasslands, and their might has shaken the world, causing a stir throughout the land.

Their martial arts prowess was so formidable that most of them had to become worried.

after awhile.

As the high-pitched, drawn-out voice of the eunuch outside the hall rang out:

"His Majesty has arrived!"

Zhang Tingyu, Chen Tingjing, Prince of Nan'an, and others present straightened their clothes and bowed to Emperor Jingsheng, who was being helped onto the dragon throne by Xia Shouzhong.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Emperor Jingsheng was dressed in casual clothes today, a dark blue robe, without a crown, and his hair was tied up with a white jade hairpin.

His complexion was much better than it had been a few months ago; his cheekbones were fuller, and his eyes were especially bright, carrying a deeper sense of authority.

"Gentlemen, you may dispense with the formalities!"

Emperor Jingsheng remained calm, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, his tone devoid of any emotion.

After being called up, the eight people stood in two rows.

Emperor Jingsheng went straight to the point and asked Prince Teng:

"Minister Wang, how is the reorganization of the capital garrison going? I have recently received quite a few memorials impeaching you."

Wang Ziteng's measures for reorganizing the Beijing garrison were almost entirely based on Jia Jing's approach to reorganizing the Ba Shang camp.

The first step was to cut the old and weak, eliminate the unskilled and select the best, and check the military register for cases of embezzlement and corruption.

Then came measures such as selecting elite troops, strengthening training, and enforcing strict military discipline.

The basic steps involved in any military reorganization are as follows. The difficulty lies not in knowing these methods, but in how to put them into practice.

Because whether it's rectification or reform, it often means harming the interests of the privileged elite, and it involves redistributing power and benefits.

The real challenge lies in ensuring that vested interest groups are appeased while also properly advancing reforms and restructuring.

Most of the time, the best option is to make the pie bigger and attract the old vested interest groups with new benefits.

Jia Jing used this method to reorganize the army in the three border regions and four towns in the northwest, using continuous victories to suppress the slight noise brought about by the reorganization of the border troops.

However, this method is very difficult, and only those with a long-term vision and exceptional skills can accomplish it.

According to Jia Jing's original method of reorganizing the army at Ba Shang camp, he would have used forceful means to quickly eliminate the vested interests of the Marquis of Linchuan, the Marquis of Zhongqin, and other key figures within the Ba Shang camp.

This directly disrupted the existing power structure and redistributed the rights and interests of Ba Shang Camp.

This approach is the most thorough and effective method of rectification, but it is also the most difficult.

Because without overwhelming strength, it is easy to suffer a backlash.

Under the psychological pressure of Jia Jing's frequent victories in the Northwest and his eagerness to make meritorious contributions, Wang Ziteng also unrealistically chose a radical and sweeping reorganization method.

Although in two months, 30,000 to 40,000 vacant positions in the Beijing Garrison were investigated, and five or six cases of embezzlement by mid-level military officers in the Beijing Garrison were investigated and dealt with.

He also enforced strict military discipline, which significantly changed the old atmosphere of the Beijing Garrison, but he also thoroughly offended the group of founding military officers serving in the Beijing Garrison.

These days, the founding military officers have fabricated numerous charges against him, submitting memorials accusing him of "disrupting morale," "mistreating soldiers," and "shaking morale."

Even more serious is that

Many of the founding military heroes secretly created public opinion and incited discontent among ordinary soldiers in the Beijing garrison, resulting in several incidents of riots and disturbances by soldiers in the capital.

In addition, Prince Teng lacked prestige and had few loyal followers in the army, which led to him being deceived and outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant.

In fact, under the planning of certain individuals, many unjust and false cases were committed.

Therefore, the recent reorganization of the Beijing garrison has caused unrest throughout the capital city.

Although his intention to reorganize the Beijing garrison was good, he caused quite a bit of trouble.

Emperor Jingsheng affirmed his attitude towards his work, and did not dismiss him from his post or convict him. He also did not reduce his support for military pay or other matters.

However, Emperor Jingsheng also expressed doubts about his abilities, worrying that his eagerness for quick success would cause even greater trouble.

Faced with Emperor Jingsheng's question, Prince Teng remained calm, bowed, stepped forward, and said in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty! I have spent more than two months reorganizing the capital garrison, and the results are quite promising."

"I have implemented four measures in the Beijing garrison: First, I have taken stock of the troops and registered their names."

"We thoroughly investigated the phenomenon of 'receiving salaries under false names,' searched for individuals by name, and prevented the fraudulent receipt of military salaries. A total of more than 34,700 false positions were uncovered."

"Secondly, reduce redundant personnel and train soldiers. Eliminate those who have infiltrated the army, such as idlers from the streets and servants of the powerful."

"Only combat-ready soldiers are left, and they are rigorously trained in marching, formations, and firearms drills. Now, the 100,000 soldiers of the Beijing Garrison conduct two drills a day and are already quite capable of fighting."

"Thirdly, the occupation of warhorses is prohibited, and the warhorses must be returned."

"Soldiers are strictly prohibited from being transferred to build houses or serve as laborers. Warhorses that have been rented out or privately occupied shall be recovered to ensure that the military supplies of the imperial court do not flow out of the country."

"Fourth, rectify military discipline and severely punish those who embezzle military pay. Punish officers who embezzle military pay severely, set an example to establish authority, and restore basic order and morale in the army."

"In addition, I also adopted the military song 'Loyal and Patriotic Soul' composed by the Marquis of Champion as the chorus for the Beijing garrison during drills and pay receptions, in order to cultivate the soldiers' loyalty to the emperor and their love for the country."

"In my opinion, the reorganization of the Beijing garrison is now on the right track. In another two or three months, the 100,000-strong army will have a brand-new look."

Wang Ziteng's response was very smooth, clearly indicating that he had thought it through many times in private.

He did not address the impeachment proceedings, but instead elaborated on the specific actions he had taken during that period.

He knew in his heart that some things didn't need much explanation.

Everyone present was a sensible person; they knew that reforming the Beijing Garrison was a task that would offend people, and it would be strange if it didn't attract impeachment!

These impeachments are not his faults, but rather a glorious manifestation of his dedication and impartiality!

Back when Jia Jing was reorganizing the Ba Shang camp, Wu Xun, the leader of the Jingnan Camp, even went to court to force the emperor to abdicate!

What is my impeachment compared to his?

As long as no major trouble is caused, these impeachments will ultimately be stepping stones for him to become Minister of War!